By: Henry M. Smith
Precious metal coins are available both as collectible coins and as a source of bullion. It is not unusual to find astute collectors hedging against a drop in one market by positioning their precious metal holdings in two markets. A drop in one market may be buffered, and perhaps offset completely, by the other market.
The large kilogram coins are particularly interesting. The Royal Canadian Mint produced a limited number of one kilogram gold coins, referred to as fine gold by the mint. The 2010 issue is the Eagle. Only twenty were released, and the coin is already sold out. However, this is not the only year the Royal Canadian Mint has offered unusually large gold coins, so if one is interested in such coins it would be wise to get on the mint’s mailing list. These large gold coins require fast action when they are released. They go fast. In 2008 the Royal Canadian Mint released twenty one kilogram coins titled “Towards Confederation.”
The Royal Canadian Mint also produces one kilogram fine silver coins. These include three versions of the 2010 Eagle, the antique finish, the proof coin, and the enameled coin. One thousand five hundred of each is the mintage listed by the mint. In 2008 there the one kilogram fine silver coin was titled “Towards Confederation” and the 2009 one kilogram fine silver coin was called “Surviving the Flood.”
For incredibly beautiful coins the Lunar Tiger Series II one kilogram fine silver coins of the Australian prestigious Perth Mint must be seen. There are two one kilogram lunar tiger coins available, the proof coin and the colorized gemstone edition coin.
The Perth Mint proof one kilogram fine silver coins include the 2010 Tiger, the 2009 Ox, and the 2008 Mouse. To view these one must go to the appropriate proof coin on the Perth Mint website and select the variation desired after clicking on the coin. With only five hundred of each available worldwide, these may offer an excellent way to incorporate rare coins into a bullion holding.
The three Perth Mint issues of the gemstone edition of series II Lunar silver coins, the 2010 Tiger, the 2009 Ox, and the 2008 Mouse, are beautifully colorized with stone inserts. The Tiger has a golden topaz eye, the ox has two yellow citrine inserts as eyes. and the mouse has two sapphires as inserts for eyes. These coins have a limited mintage of five thousand each to be released worldwide.
Low mintage, quality coins are particularly appealing to numismatists. Thus, they are likely to maintain numismatic value over the value of bullion.
At the time of this article being written, the Perth Mint still has all coins mentioned, and the Royal Canadian Mint has the silver 2010 coins available.
This article is being made available from Black Spaniel Gallery at http://blackspanielgallery.comby the author. Links to major English speaking mints are available at Black Spaniel Gallery.
Even bullion holdings can have a hedge by buying into the rare coin market.
